After taking a week off from work last week, I was able to think about things from a slightly different perspective. My usual routine was broken and I was able to sort of step outside of my normal life for a while. It also provided an opportunity for me to take another look at my priorities.

I know that often on this site and most other financial sites there is a sense of frugality that is recommended and that we shouldn’t just be wasteful. Oftentimes this is taken to the extreme where one hardly spends any money at all.

Now, whether you’re just careful or someone who tries to minimize all expenditures, are you doing it at the expense of missed experiences and opportunities? I’m not saying that you should aimlessly go out and buy tickets for events or other activities, but are you falling into a rut because of an unwillingness to spend any money?

There are also many activities and things to do that are relatively cheap if not altogether free. Life should be lived and there are a myriad of things to do if you go out and find them. We shouldn’t waste away so much time on mindless hours of television for example. You’ll also find that you’ll meet new people and come across many different opportunities that you would otherwise never have noticed.

So, if you feel that you’re stuck somewhere, or that life just isn’t that exciting, actively seek out something new that you can do and experience. It may be a free museum, or a walk around a downtown area you hardly ever visit. Perhaps it’s just a walk around a local park. Whatever you decide, try something new and see if you can get yourself out of the daily grind of your usual routine.

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